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Counterwise

No. 15 of 16 at TFS

Budget

at Tenerife South Airport

Shuttle 3 min
Counterwise Score 2.5 out of 10, rated Poor.Low consensusCheck prices ↓

At a glance

  • Budget at Tenerife South Airport is ranked No. 15 of 16 car rental desks at the airport, with a Counterwise Score of 2.5/10 (Poor).
  • The Budget desk is off-site: the shuttle from Tenerife South Airport takes about 3 minutes.
  • A credit card in the main driver's name is required; the deposit amount is not confirmed yet.
  • Fuel policy: full to full. Opening hours: 07:00–23:00 daily.
  • Main red flag from travellers: Dozens of reviews over the past 12 months describe sustained pressure to buy the desk's own cover despite broker or prepaid insurance, with warnings of roughly 1,700-2,500 euros per scratch and extra charges of about 100-320 euros..

Based on 290 reviews analysed · Last updated · How scores work

The short version

Based on about 245 substantive Google reviews after removing 10 unreliable ones (plus 41 star-only ratings), this off-site, shuttle-served desk has mostly negative recent feedback. The main complaints are waits of 1-3 hours, pressure to buy extra insurance and post-return charges, though some travellers report new cars and smooth rentals. Web evidence is thin, mostly undated and mixed, so it adds little beyond the reviews.

AI-assisted summary of 290 recent Google reviews and web reports, reviewed by our editor on 13 November 2026. How we do it

Score breakdown

Each sub-score is out of 10. Higher is always better for you. How the weights work

Deposit & damage disputes(30% of score)

Poor3.5/10

How often travellers report surprise damage charges, slow deposit refunds or disputed scratches. Based on 55 reports · high confidence.

Counter upselling(20% of score)

Poor1.5/10

Pressure to buy extra insurance, upgrades or add-ons at the desk. Higher means less pressure. Based on 65 reports · high confidence.

Booking honoured(20% of score)

Poor3.0/10

Whether you get the car category and the price you booked, without new fees at the counter. Based on 40 reports · high confidence.

Queue time(15% of score)

Poor1.5/10

Typical wait from reaching the desk (or shuttle stop) to holding the keys. Based on 110 reports · high confidence.

Car condition(15% of score)

Poor5.5/10

Cleanliness, mileage and mechanical state of the cars handed out. Based on 45 reports · medium confidence.

How this score was built

  • AI analysis of reviews and web reports (the sub-scores above, weighted): 3.0 · counts 70%
  • Star ratings on review platforms, rescaled against all desks we rate: 0.5 · counts 30%
  • 10 of 300 recent reviews excluded as unreliable (other locations, solicited staff praise, duplicates…). How we clean reviews
  • Pulled 10% toward the airport average, because recent reviews are few (139 after weighting by age).

Low consensusOur independent signals disagree: read the red and green flags before relying on the score.

What travellers flag

Red flags (5)

  • Dozens of reviews over the past 12 months describe sustained pressure to buy the desk's own cover despite broker or prepaid insurance, with warnings of roughly 1,700-2,500 euros per scratch and extra charges of about 100-320 euros.
  • Very long pick-up queues, commonly 1 to 3 hours with only 2-3 staff for a full shuttle bus, are reported by about 40 recent reviews; a recent consumer-site post also describes waits of at least an hour.trustpilot.com
  • Several recent reviews report card charges after the return for damage, fuel or extras that travellers say they did not agree to or that the return check had cleared, often with little or no photo evidence and slow replies.trustpilot.com
  • The desk is off-site and the shuttle stop is hard to find; recent reviews describe 10-20 minute rides or walks, 20-30 minute shuttle waits and unclear booking information, plus problems with night-time returns and taxi vouchers.
  • Around 11 recent reviews report booking problems: a lower car category or transmission than booked, no car available, or collection refused (for example at the 23:00 closing time or over card rules).

Green flags (3)

  • About 10 recent reviews describe new, low-mileage and clean cars, including some free upgrades.
  • Returns are often described as quick and simple, and several reviewers, including some critics, call the staff friendly or helpful.
  • A few recent reviews report the deposit released within minutes to a few days of returning the car.

Practical facts

LocationOff-site, shuttle about 3 minsource
Opening hours07:00–23:00 dailysource
Credit card requiredYes, in the main driver’s namesource
Typical depositNot confirmed yet
Fuel policyFull to fullsource
Shares the desk withAvis, Turisprime

“Not confirmed yet” means we have not verified that fact yet. We never guess.

Sources

Web pages behind this rating’s facts and flags, found through search APIs. The review analysis also used 290 recent Google reviews of this desk, which we do not republish.

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Budget at other airports and stations

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Budget at Tenerife South Airport: questions and answers

Is Budget at Tenerife South Airport any good?

Budget at Tenerife South Airport has a Counterwise Score of 2.5/10 (Poor) and is ranked No. 15 of 16 desks at the airport. Main green flag: About 10 recent reviews describe new, low-mileage and clean cars, including some free upgrades.. Main red flag: Dozens of reviews over the past 12 months describe sustained pressure to buy the desk's own cover despite broker or prepaid insurance, with warnings of roughly 1,700-2,500 euros per scratch and extra charges of about 100-320 euros..

Do I need a credit card to rent from Budget at Tenerife South Airport?

Yes. Budget at Tenerife South Airport requires a credit card in the main driver's name for the deposit.

How much is the deposit at Budget at Tenerife South Airport?

The deposit amount at Budget at Tenerife South Airport is not confirmed yet. Check the rental terms when you book. The lowest confirmed starting deposit at this airport is at AutoReisen (€0).

Where is the Budget desk at Tenerife South Airport?

The Budget desk is off-site: the shuttle from Tenerife South Airport takes about 3 minutes. It shares the counter with Avis and Turisprime.

What are the opening hours of Budget at Tenerife South Airport?

Budget at Tenerife South Airport is open 07:00–23:00 daily. Fuel policy: full to full.

Other desks at Tenerife South Airport

Ranked by Counterwise Score. Compare all 16 desks side by side